Ophthalmology Flashcards
Causes of papilloedema
- Space-occupying lesion: neoplastic, vascular
- Malignant hypertension
- Idiopathic intracranial hypertension
- Hydrocephalus
- Hypercapnia
- Hypoparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia
- Vitamin A toxicity
Eyelid problems
- Blepharitis: inflammation of eyelid margins typically leading to red eye
- Stye: infection of glands of eyelids
o Mx: hot compresses and analgesia - Chalazion (Meibomian cyst): retention cyst of Meibomian gland
- Entropion: in-turning of eyelids
- Ectropion: out-turning of eyelids
Differentials for painless acute red eye
o Conjunctivitis
o Episcleritis
o Subconjunctival haemorrhage
Differentials for painful acute red eye
o Acute angle closure Glaucoma
o Anterior uveitis
o Scleritis
o Corneal abrasions or ulceration
o Keratitis
o Foreign body
o Traumatic or chemical injury
o Endophythalmitis
o Dry eyes
Causes of acute visual loss
Optic nerve
- Anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy
- Optic neuritis
Retina
- Central retinal artery occlusion
- Central retinal vein occlusion
What is age related macular degeneration
Degeneration of central retina causing progressive deterioration in vision, often bilateral
Risk factors for macular degeneration
- Advancing age
- Smoking
- Family history (white or Chinese ethnic origin)
- CVD = Hypertension, Dyslipidaemia, Diabetes mellitus
- Obesity (poor diet low in vits and high in fat)
- Females
Classification of macular degeneration
- Dry (90%) = drusen (yellow round spots in Bruch’s membrane), slow progression
- Wet (10%) = choroidal neovascularisation, rapid progression
Presentation of macular degeneration
- Subacute onset of central visual field loss
- Reduction in visual acuity for near field objects
- Difficulties in dark adaptation with overall deterioration in vision at night
- Fluctuations in visual disturbance
- Photopsia (perception of flickering or flashing lights)
- Glare around objects
- Crooked or wavy appearance to straight lines (metamorphopsia)
- Visual hallucinations Charles-Bonnet syndrome
Examination of macular degeneration
- Amsler grid testing distortion of line perception
- Fundoscopy presence of drusen, fluid leakage or haemorrhage
- Atrophy of retinal pigment epithelium
- Degeneration of photoreceptors
- Scotoma (central patch of vision loss)
Investigations of macular degeneration
- Slit lamp microscopy + colour fundus photography
- Fluorescein angiography
- Ocular coherence tomography
Management of macular degeneration
- Refer to ophthalmology for assessment and management
- Zinc with vitamins A, C and E
- Stop smoking
- Blood pressure control
- Anti Vascular endothelial growth factors (ranibizumab, aflibercept, bevacizumab) for wet ARMD ± steroids
- Laser photocoagulation
What is primary open-angle glaucoma
- Optic nerve damage caused by raised intraocular pressure caused by blockage in aqueous humour
- Gradual increase in resistance to flow through trabecular meshwork
Risk factors for open-angle glaucoma
- Increasing age
- Family history
- Black ethnic origin
- Myopia (near-sightedness)
- Hypertension
- Diabetes mellitus
- Corticosteroids
Presentation of open-angle glaucoma
- May be asymptomatic
- Gradual onset of peripheral vision loss
- Fluctuating pain
- Headaches
- Blurred vision
- Halos around lights, particularly at night
Fundoscopy findings in open-angle glaucoma
Optic disc cupping
optic disc pallor
bayonetting of vessels
cup notching
disc haemorrhages
Investigations of open-angle glaucoma
- Non-contact tonometry (screening) measure pressure
- Goldmann applanation tonometry (GS)
- Slit lamp ‘cupping’
- Perimetry visual fields
- Gonioscopy peripheral anterior chamber configuration and depth
- Central corneal thickness
Management of open-angle glaucoma
- Started at intraocular pressure of 24 mmHg or above
- 1st line 360 degree selective laser trabeculoplasty
- 2nd line Prostaglandin analogue eye drops (latanoprost)
- 3rd line beta-blocker (timolol) eye drops, carbonic anhydrase inhibitor eye drops, sympathomietic eye drops
- Trabeculectomy considered in refractory cases
Side effects of prostaglandin analogue eye drops
eyelash growth, eyelid pigmentation, iris pigmentation (browning)
Prevention of open-angle glaucoma
Pts with positive family history should be screened annually from age 40
What is acute angle-closure glaucoma
- Optic neuropathy due to raised intraocular pressure
- Iris bulges forwards and seals off trabecular meshwork from anterior chamber preventing aqueous humour from draining
- Pressure builds in posterior chamber, pushing iris forwards and exacerbating angle closure
- MEDICAL EMERGENCY
Risk factors for angle-closure glaucoma
- Hypermetropia (long-sightedness)
- Pupillary dilatation
- Cataracts
- Lens growth associated with age
- Family history
- Female
- Chinese and East Asian ethnic origin
- Shallow anterior chamber
Triggers of angle-closure glaucoma
- Adrenergic medications (noradrenaline)
- Anticholinergic medications (oxybutynin and solifenacin)
- Tricyclic antidepressants (amitriptyline)
Presentation of angle-closure glaucoma
- Severely painful red eye
- Hazy cornea
- Decreased visual acuity blurred vision
- Symptoms worse with mydriasis (watching TV in dark room)
- Headache
- Haloes around lights
- Semi-dilated non-reacting oval pupil
- Corneal oedema results in dull or hazy cornea
- Hard eyeball on gentle palpation
- Systemic: N+V, abdo pain
Investigations of angle-closure glaucoma
- Tonometry elevated IOP (40-60 mmHg)
- Gonioscopy
Management of angle-closure glaucoma
- Urgent referral to ophthalmologist and immediate admission
- IV/oral acetazolamide reduces aqueous production
- Combination of eye drops direct parasympathomimetic (pilocarpine), iopidine drops
- Analgesia and antiemetic if required
- IV mannitol, timolol, dorzolamide, brimonidine
- Definitive: laser bilateral peripheral iridotomy
What is retinal detachment
Occurs when neurosensory tissue that lines the back of the eye comes away from its underlying pigment epithelium
Risk factors for retinal detachment
- Diabetes mellitus
- Myopia
- Age
- Previous surgery for cataracts
- Eye trauma (boxing)
Presentation of retinal detachment
- New onset floaters or flashes
- Sudden onset, painless and progressive visual field loss curtain or shadow progressing to centre of visual field from periphery
- Central visual acuity if macula involved
- Peripheral visual fields may be reduced
Examination of retinal detachment
- Swinging light test relative afferent pupillary defect if optic nerve involved
- Fundoscopy red reflex lost, retinal folds appear pale/opaque/wrinkled forms
Management of retinal detachment
- Urgent referral to ophthalmologist for assessment with slit lamp and indirect ophthalmoscopy for pigment cells and vitreous haemorrhage
- Surgery Vitrectomy + gas/oil tamponade/scleral buckle, cryotherapy to secure
- Laser photocoagulation
Complication of retinal detachment
Permanent visual loss
What is blepharitis
Inflammation of eyelid margins
Risk factors for blepharitis
Rosacea
Causes of blepharitis
- Meibomian gland dysfunction
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis/staph infection
Presentation of blepharitis
- Symptoms usually bilateral
- Grittiness and discomfort, particularly around eyelid margins
- Eyes may be sticky in the morning
- Crusts and scales on eyelashes
- Eyelid margins may be red
- Swollen eyelids may be seen in staph blepharitis
- Styes and chalazions mor common
- Secondary conjunctivitis may occur
Management of blepharitis
- Softening lid margin using hot compresses twice a day
- Lid hygiene
o Mechanical removal of debris from lid margins
o Cotton wool buds dipped in cooled boiled water and baby shampoo
o Sodium bicarbonate in cooled boiled water - Artificial tears for symptoms relief
Causes of optic neuritis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Other: sarcoidosis, Syphilis, diabetes
Presentation of optic neuritis
- Unilateral decrease in visual acuity over hrs or days
- Poor discrimination of colours red desaturation
- Pain worse on eye movement
- Relative afferent pupillary defect
- Central scotoma
Investigation of optic neuritis
MRI brain and orbits with gadolinium contrast
Management of optic neuritis
High dose steroids
What is keratitis
Inflammation of cornea
Causes of keratitis
- Bacterial: staph aureus, pseudomonas aeruginosa (contact lens wearers)
- Fungal
- Amoebic: acanthamoebic keratitis (soil or contaminated water)
- Parasitic: onchocercal keratitis (river blindness)
- Viral: herpes simplex
- Environmental: photokeratitis, exposure keratitis, contact lens acute red eye (CLARE)
- Mechanical or trauma
- Chemical
Presentation of keratitis
- Red eye: pain and erythema
- Photophobia
- Foreign body, gritty sensation
- Hypopyon
- Blurred vision